Gangsterism

/ˈɡæŋstərɪzəm/ noun

Definition

The activities, behaviors, or organized crime practices characteristic of gangsters; membership in or adherence to gang culture.

Etymology

From 'gangster' (from 'gang' + '-ster' meaning a person engaged in something) + '-ism' (a system or practice). The term emerged in early 20th-century America.

Kelly Says

Gangsterism became a defining feature of American urban culture during Prohibition (1920-1933), when making alcohol illegal created a black market that made ordinary criminals into millionaires overnight.

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